COMMERCE – The second-ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team used an offensive outpouring in the first game and dominated from the pitching circle all day in a doubleheader sweep of Texas Woman's University on Wednesday.
 
The Lions won the first game in five innings by a 12-3 score, then earned a 2-0 win in the second game.
 
A&M-Commerce is now 18-4 on the year with a 12-0 Lone Star Conference record. The Lions have won 14 straight games, which is the second-longest winning streak in program history. Texas Woman's falls to 4-13 overall and 3-9 in league play.
 
The Lions are scheduled to host three doubleheaders next week, starting with a non-conference twinbill against nationally-ranked Southern Arkansas at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE DOUBLEHEADER

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game One)
- Three Lions hit homeruns and four players collected multiple hits in an offensive outburst.
- Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) went the distance, striking out nine and walking none in a complete game two-hitter, allowing three runs.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) was 2-for-3 with a grand slam, the 33rd in program history.
- Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) was 2-for-3 with a solo homer. Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Kinsie Hebler (Cy-Falls) scored twice.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game One)
Otto was perfect through the first three innings, and the Lion offense took advantage of her excellent work in the second inning. LeBlanc started the scoring with a one-out solo homer, and a Hebler walk, Slider double, and hit batter loaded the bases. With a full count and two out, Schaefer launched a missile to left-center for a grand slam and a 5-0 Lion lead.
 
More clutch two-out hitting from the Lions extended the lead in the third, when Boley and LeBlanc hit consecutive singles. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Hebler stole second, and Slider's hard-hit single made it a 7-0 game.
 
TWU cut into the lead in the top of the fourth after a hit batter, single, and Taylor Goulet's first homer of the season, making it a 7-3 contest.
 
The bottom of the fourth was another offence showcase, all with no outs. Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) had a bunt single and a steal, Schaefer earned an infield single on a popup lost in the sun, and that duo executed a double steal to put a pair in scoring position. After Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) walked to load the bases, Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) hit a two-run single. Boley then hit a towering shot to centerfield which bounced off of the top of the fence for a three-run homerun and a 12-3 Lion lead.
 
Otto was taken to a full count twice in the fifth, but her perfect shutdown inning game the Lions yet another run-rule win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game Two)
- LeBlanc moved her record to 12-2 on the season with the complete game shutout, which is her eighth of the season. She allowed four hits and struck out 11 with no walks.
- Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) went 2-for-2 as the only Lion with multiple hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started in the second, when Dugi singled, stole second, and went to third on a passed ball. Modrego's RBI groundout made it a 1-0 game.
 
The lead was extended when Hebler led off the second with a double, and pinch runner Da'Jia Davis (Waco Midway) scored with the bases loaded on a fielding error, but that was all the damage the Lions could exact. The score was 2-0 to the hosts after two innings.
 
While LeBlanc allowed only one Pioneer to reach scoring position in the whole game, the Lions missed on chances to extend the lead, stranding 10 runners on base in the contest.
 
The Pioneers could not capitalized on the narrow margin, managing only two bloop singles in the final three innings.